Labor told 'fresh, concerted approach' needed to fix healthcare sector in new Productivity Commission report
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Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Perth Now
Reforms of care services needed, commission recommends
Australia's care system could see sweeping reforms that includes a national screening system for care workers, greater collaboration between health services and a major shift towards preventive health investment. The Productivity Commission released its fifth and final interim report on Wednesday, noting an overhaul of the care sector is needed to boost the country's productivity. Commissioner Alison Roberts said care is a rapidly growing sector and proposed reforms will seek to break through government's siloed approach to decision-making. The interim report urges the government to better align quality and safety regulations across the care economy, by reducing the risk of unsafe providers and workers. This includes a streamlined national screen clearance for workers in aged care, NDIS, veterans' care and early childhood education and care sectors. It would make it easier for workers to move between care sectors and cut down on paperwork from providers. "We don't have a joined up system, which means people can move from state to state or within the sector to another (workforce) and avoid detection," Dr Roberts said. "Greater oversight and joined up systems will reduce this risk of occurring." The interim report also recommends the establishment of a national framework to support investment in prevention. This would allow governments the ability to invest in programs that bring long-term benefits to patients and communities. Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Terry Slevin said the recommendation exposes a glaring flaw in the federal budget process which hampers investment in prevention. He said the current rules don't allow for forecasting or consideration of financial and productivity benefits beyond the four-year estimates period. "That means the long-term benefits that come from preventive health measures are excluded from influencing government decision making," he told AAP. "This is nuts." Professor Slevin said the report recognises the importance of preventative health, something that is a forgotten part of the health funding model. "Prevention has an enormous benefit and of course being able to live longer and healthier lives is really the key benefit," he said. "The PC provides that economic lens for us to think again about how we approach investment in making our health better rather than just fixing us when we're crook." The report also calls for integrated and tailored care through collaboration, which would see hospital and primary health networks work together with Aboriginal community controlled health organisations. This will improve the quality of care and promote local autonomy, which could reduce potentially preventable hospitalisations and other gaps in service provision. The commission estimates a 10 per cent drop in preventable hospitalisations through better collaboration could save $600 million annually. Business, union and civil society leaders will come together with experts and government representatives at a three-day economic reform roundtable, which begins on August 19.
Sky News AU
21 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Labor told 'fresh, concerted approach' needed to fix healthcare sector in new Productivity Commission report
A new Productivity Commission report has urged the Albanese government to tackle the "increasing pressure" on Australia's healthcare system with a "fresh, concerted" approach. Catch up with all of the day's breaking news and live interviews from politicians and experts with a Streaming Subscription.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Shock sector driving the Aussie economy
Australia's economy is getting a surprising boost from the wellness sector, which has quietly grown to one of the nation's leading sectors. According to a new report by Global Wellness Institute, Australia ranks seventh in the world when it comes to spending on their healthcare. In total this added $194.4bn in 2023, up 10.9 per cent year on year or around $7,402 per person. Wellness now makes up seven per cent of Australia's GDP, placing it behind the construction sector. Currently the construction industry accounts for around 9 per cent of GDP and employs more than 1.3 million people. Australians are spending billions to stay fit. NewsWire/Sarah Matray Credit: News Corp Australia Anytime Fitness managing director Simon Thompson says the results show the wellness economy is doing its share of the heavy lifting when it comes to Australia's economy. 'When you consider our population, Australia is punching above its weight and has pioneered many wellness communities that support healthy lifestyles, vibrant social connections, and sustainable living in its growing housing markets,' Mr Thompson said. Mr Thompson said the push was coming from younger Aussies. 'Gyms, instead of pubs and clubs, are now often the number one choice for weekend outings, and even dates,' he said. 'Gen Z now spends seven times the amount of money on getting fit than Gen X.' According to the report, Australia's overall wellness growth is coming across a number of sub-sectors. Wellness tourism has swelled by 32.9 per cent between 2019 to 2023 while thermal/mineral springs are up 21.5 per cent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen talk about the benefits of building things in Australia Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Wellness real estate, mental wellness and physical activity round out the top five sectors. The report comes as prime minister Anthony Albanese separately spruiks the benefit to Australia reviving its building and manufacturing sectors. During a doorstop in the electorate of Bonner in Brisbane the prime minster and Energy Minister Chris Bowen talked up the home battery incentive and solar panel uptake. 'It's good for everyone because what it does is take pressure off the grid during peak times, and that's why this is such good public policy, good for households … of course, good right throughout Australia,' Mr Albanese says. According to the ministers, 28,000 Australian homes have installed a home battery under the government's policy. But Mr Albanese wants more Australians to take up the scheme and for the panels to be built in Australia. 'Chris (Bowen) was at the South Australian factory producing solar panels earlier this week, or at the end of last week, that's expanding by nine times,' Mr Albanese said. 'We also want to produce more things here. We have everything that goes into a battery. One of the progress we have is for battery manufacturing.' Mr Albanese went further calling for more large infrastructure projects such as trains and boats to be built in Australia. 'We want things made here and here in Queensland. I want more manufacturing, more jobs to be created here.'
